Page 149 of Ares' Shield
“What?” I ask, glancing over my shoulder.
Raven is clutching the crate next to her so it doesn’t fall on her.
“My ax is too big for the tiny space. This whole thing nearly toppled on me.” Raven grunts.
“I told you to be careful of the maze of death. Who even knows what’s in these boxes? It could be dangerous shit.” I turn around, but the path that was so clear a moment ago is blocked. “What the hell?”
“What is it?” Raven glances at the wall of boxes in front of me.
“There was just a path here before I turned around to check on you. Now it’s gone.” I reach out to touch the wall ahead, but it wavers and sways.
“Shit, B. Don’t do that.” Raven snatches my hand away.
“It just appeared in my way, Raven. That’s not normal.” I pull my hand from her grip.
“Nothing about our lives is normal. Look, it looks like a new path.” She points to my left and I groan.
“Just don’t take your eyes from the path,” Jayden says. “Maybe it’s like the deal Hades made and if you turn around, it disappears.”
Draven grumbles, “You would be the expert there.”
“Shut the fuck up, Draven,” Raven snarls.
“Let’s all just calm the fuck down.” I take a step into the new path and even when there’s an oof behind me, I don’t turn.
Someone probably put Draven in his place, but we have more important matters to worry about than his bruised ego.
The walls become smaller like they are closing in on me the farther we get to the path.
“Shit, I don’t think the guys are going to fit in here much longer, B. I can barely fit.” Raven pants.
“Did we choose the wrong path and it’s like the trash compactor scene inStar Wars?” I ask. “I need out of this damn maze.”
“At least nothing has reached out and tried to grab us,” Raven chirps.
“Fuck, Raven, why do you always do that?”
“Do what?” she asks innocently.
“You practically jinx us every time you start a sentence that starts with ‘at least.’” I shake my head, careful to keep my eyes on the path ahead.
“I do not.”
“You really do, babe.” Greyson chuckles.
“Again, you’re supposed to be on my side, traitor.” There’s another oof behind me.
“Wait, I think I came to the end, but it’s going to be a really tight squeeze,” I say, shutting them all up.
I peek through the path. The opening might barely fit me and Raven if we turn to our sides, but how are we going to get the guys through? The whole maze will topple on them if we try.
“Raven, without taking your eyes off the tiny hole right there, I want you to turn fully to your side. We are going to squeeze through and find another way for the guys to get out,” I instruct.
“The Hades you are,” Jayden says.
“It’s the best way, trust me.” I sigh.
“I do trust you. I just don’t trust this place. It’s too weird,” Jayden growls.
